You yell at everything; you yell and yell:
You would be horrified if all went well.
You yelled at Papandreou, worthy man,
A Socialist, a sound Republican.
Poor Papandreou might have won the crowd;
But he was finished-for you yelled too loud.
‘Out of the frying-pan . . .’ you yell, and pass
From Papandreou to a Plastiras.
And now, no doubt, you’ll yell and yell again:
Or could you, could you, just for once, refrain?
It is not feasible-it is not fair-
To govern Athens from Trafalgar Square.
Your heart is huge, your intellect is large:
But then, you see, we’ve other men in charge.
And do not shed false tears for fighting Greece:
The last thing you are looking for is peace.
You are delighted. It would suit your game
If every land in Europe was the same.
What matters misery in Greece or Rome
If you can make some mischief here at home?
January 14, 1945
(A P Herbert)
More Poetry from A P Herbert:
A P Herbert Poems based on Topics: Man, War & Peace, Home, Doubt & Skepticism- The Ballad of The 'Bluebell' (A P Herbert Poems)
- From The Dug-Out; A Memory of Gallipoli (A P Herbert Poems)
- Crossing The Road (A P Herbert Poems)
- The Battle Of The Headlines (A P Herbert Poems)
- The Harbour (A P Herbert Poems)
- Hymn For Victory (A P Herbert Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, War & Peace Poems, Home Poems, Doubt & Skepticism PoemsBased on Keywords: socialist, trafalgar, horrified, frying-pan
- The Art Of Preserving Health. Book IV (John Armstrong Poems)
- Alma; or, The Progress of the Mind. In Three Cantos. - Canto III. (Matthew Prior Poems)
- Of The Nature Of Things: Book II - Part 03 - Atomic Forms And Their Combinations (Lucretius Poems)
- Rhodon And Iris. Act V (Ralph Knevet Poems)
- The Believer's Jointure : Chapter I. (Ralph Erskine Poems)